A reply to an answer made of M. Doctor Whitgifte Against the admonition to…A replye to an ansvvere made of M. Doctor VVhitgifte Against the admonition to…

If we lived amongst the Turks / it were another matter / and then there might peradventure some question be / whether we should do as they did / and having the same sore / use the same plaster: but now we live among the papists / that do not contemn the cross of Christ / but which esteem more of the wooden cross / then of the true cross of Christ (which is his sufferings) we ought now do clean contrariwise to the old christians / and abolish all use of these crosses / for contrary diseases must have contrary remedies. If therefore the old christians to deliver the cross of Christ from contempt / did often use the cross: the christians now to take away the superstitious estimation of it / ought to take away the use of it. Concerning the other reason of the profitable signification of the cross / I have showed / that that maketh the thing a great deal worse / and bringeth in a new word into the church / whereas there ought to be no Doctor heard in the church / but only our saviour Christ. For if these significations be good / then the papists have to answer us / that their ceremonies be not dumb / which have as likely and as glorious significations as these are / and so in deed they say / that their ceremonies are not dumb ceremonies / for so much as they signify so good things. But although it be the word of God that we should not be ashamed of the cross of Christ / yet is it not the word of God / that we should be kept in remembrance and observation of the by two lines drawn a cross one over an other in the child's forehead / but a fond toy and idle devise of mans brain.

If we liued amongst the Turkes / it were another matter / and then there myght peraduenture some question be / whether we shuld do as they dyd / and hauyng the same sore / vse the same playster: but now we liue among the papistes / that do not contemne the crosse of Christ / but whych esteme more of the wodden crosse / then of the true crosse of Christ (whych is hys sufferings) we ought now do cleane contrarywise to the olde christians / and abolyshe all vse of these crosses / for contrary dyseases must haue contrary remedyes. If therfore the olde christians to delyuer the crosse of Christ from contempt / dyd often vse the crosse: the christians now to take away the superstitious estimation of it / ought to take away the vse of it. Concerning the other reason of the profitable signification of the crosse / I haue shewed / that that maketh the thyng a greate deale worse / and bryngeth in a newe worde into the church / wheras there ought to be no Doctor heard in the church / but only our sauioure Christ. For if these significations be good / then the papists haue to answer vs / that their ceremonies be not dumbe / whych haue as lykely and as gloryous significations as these are / and so in deede they say / that their ceremonyes are not dumbe ceremonyes / for so much as they signify so good thyngs. But although it be the worde of God that we should not be ashamed of the crosse of Christe / yet is it not the word of God / that we should be kept in remembrance and obseruation of ye by two lines drawn a crosse one ouer an other in the childes forehead / but a fond toy and idle deuise of mannes brayne.